NOVEL NEXT Chapter 8. At First Sight.
Cang Ling Ye studied the layout of the cave, noticing its simplicity. It struck him that the wolf girl, who had lived here alone, didn’t have any contact with the outside world and didn’t know anything about it.
Watching Cang Ling Ye examine the cave, the wolf girl approached him and offered some fruit she had gathered in the forest the day before, thinking he might be hungry.
“Wuu…” The wolf girl handed the fruit to Cang Ling Ye and whimpered softly, unable to speak, so this was all she could do to express herself.
“Thank you!” Cang Ling Ye said gratefully, feeling his stomach rumble as he accepted the fruit with a warm smile.
He split the fruit in two and offered half to the wolf girl, who accepted it with a touch of confusion.
They shared smiles as they ate the fruit together.
Looking around the cave, Cang Ling Ye found it very simple, offering a primitive shelter from the wind and rain. Having grown up in a palace, he marveled at how the wolf girl managed to survive on her own in this beautiful but dangerous world.
Since the wolf girl had saved his life and they seemed to have found some common ground, Cang Ling Ye came up with a great idea.
Since he was the one who knew about the outside world and now had the wolf girl’s trust, he should stay here for the time being to help the wolf girl live a somewhat better quality of life. In addition, he could also recuperate from his injuries here.
“Thank you for the meal. Since you have been so kind to me, I can’t just eat without doing something in return. How about I help you clean up as a way to repay you?”
After considering it, Cang Ling Ye gestured a few times in the cave, looking at the wolf girl, in the hopes that she would understand his intentions.
“Wuu … Wuu …” The wolf girl seemed to grasp Cang Ling Ye’s intentions and began copying his movements. Seeing Cang Ling Ye’s gentle demeanor, she relaxed and let her guard down.
Outside, the wolves gradually dispersed, moving in small groups of three or five animals as they ventured into the forest to hunt, returning only after nightfall.
They may have heeded the wolf girl’s words, grasped her message, and concluded that Cang Ling Ye, who had descended from the sky, meant her no harm.
As Cang Ling Ye brushed against his arm, the wound reopened, and blood stained his clothes.
He remained silent, instinctively covering the wound, his eyes quickly regaining composure with a determined look as if sensing potential threats.
While reading Mencius, Cang Ling Ye came across a passage: “When Heaven bestows great responsibility upon a person, it first torments their will, toils their muscles and bones, starves their skin and skin, and empties their body…” Reflecting on his experiences, he believed these challenges were part of his path, a test bestowed upon him by Heaven.
Seeing Cang Ling Ye’s bleeding arm, the wolf girl dashed out of the cave, surprising him.
Following her to the entrance, Cang Ling Ye watched as she returned with fresh herbs, understanding her intent.
The wolf girl anxiously crumpled the Silk Road Thistle, a potent herb known for its ability to staunch bleeding.
Though Cang Ling Ye knew its properties, he had never paid much attention. He was accustomed to tending to his wounds alone.
Yet, seeing the wolf girl’s anxious demeanor stirred an unexpected warmth within him.
With skill, the wolf girl tended to Cang Ling Ye’s wound, swiftly stopping the bleeding. He needed to avoid sudden movements to prevent reopening it.
Given his current state, leaving was not an option. The Dark Moon Forest offered him sanctuary.
“Thank you!”
Cang Ling Ye repeated, unsure if the wolf girl understood his words.
Her smile and clear, bright eyes conveyed that she considered him a friend.
Though unable to understand his words, the wolf girl remained silent, recognizing his kindness.
Perhaps it was their innate kindness or shared experiences that forged an instant connection.
“Shall we step outside?” Cang Ling Ye suggested, gesturing towards the sunlight streaming into the cave.
“Wuu, wuu…” She understood and guided him.
Stepping into the open, Cang Ling Ye found himself in a peaceful meadow bathed in gentle sunlight. The inviting warmth of the grass and the fresh scent in the air enveloped him.
In the wolf girl’s Dark Moon Forest, a place that the outside world considered hell, Cang Ling Ye felt a warmth akin to heaven, enabling him to release all his body’s wariness and uneasiness.